Overa third of Americans took their last vacation more than two yearsago, and over half have not vacationed in more than a year. (Image:Shutterstock)

"I'm sorry boss, but you're cutting out – I must nothave good reception on this Polynesian island. See you in twoweeks!"

Then they immediately make a call to their bestie back in theU.S. bragging about their vacation.

Roughly the sentiment of 49 percent of Americans, who admit tolying about WiFi reception to avoid checking in with the officewhile on vacation, according to Allianz Global Assistance's 11thannual Vacation Confidence Index.

"Most working Americans feel pressured to spend their vacationsattached to their work email, when they may just need a few days tounplug. Consequently, half of U.S. workers are willing to lie aboutlack of connectivity to set them free from work obligations," saysDaniel Durazo, director of marketing and communications at AllianzGlobal Assistance USA.

The most likely person to pull the "cutting out" excuse is awhite (53 percent), college-educated (50 percent) millennial (59percent), who is married (53 percent) with children (53 percent)and working full time (50 percent) for an annual salary more than$50,000 (53 percent) in the Northeast (53 percent).

Across generations, millennials are most likely to use theexcuse (59 percent), followed by Gen Xers (49 percent) and boomers(32 percent). On the flip side, a quarter of all working Americans(24 percent) make a point not to go on vacation in places wherepoor cell reception or WiFi access could disrupt their connectionto the office.

Other key findings of the report include:

• The majority (57 percent) of Americans do not take a leisuretrip longer than four nights in the last year, with millennialsleading this "micro-cation" trend. Not only are Americans takingshorter trips, but for many, these micro-cations are replacing thetraditional week-long vacation.
• Sharing economy services are cooling off with millennialtravelers, just when they're heating up for boomers.
• Overall, the likelihood to use sharing economy services isdown. About four out of ten (41 percent) of Americans say they areeither "very" or "somewhat" likely to use them during their 2019summer travels, compared to 47 percent in 2018 and 50 percent in2017.
• Americans are planning to spend more on their summer vacationsthis year than they have in at least a decade. The total spend willcross the $100 billion mark for the third consecutive year in theindex's history, amounting to $101.7 billion. Althoughyear-over-year growth in total spending has plateaued, spending pertraveler is up. Americans' average anticipated spend on vacationsthis summer is $2,037, topping $2,000 for the first time since 2010when the survey started tracking spending, and marking a 5.2percent increase over last year.
• Over a third of Americans took their last vacation more thantwo years ago, and over half have not vacationed in more than ayear. Only 42 percent say they are confident they would take asummer vacation this year—the lowest confidence rating since 2013.Despite the prevailing thought that work prevents many Americansfrom using all their vacation time, financial concerns (52 percentof all reasons) far outweigh professional obligations for those whowere not confident in taking a summer vacation.
• Half of working Americans would accept a job with no vacationtime if they were paid more, and on average they would require a 48percent raise for the tradeoff. One in three Americans would giveup a portion of their paycheck for unlimited vacation, withmillennials (41 percent) even more likely to do so. Millennials arethe most likely to both give up vacation time for salary, and giveup salary for vacation time, highlighting how importantprofessional success and personal flexibility is to thisgeneration.